Lickerin pneumatic manifold with automatic modulating damper for regulating internal static pressure

ABSTRACT

A suction manifold structure for carding machines to capture fly from junction orifices through which fly is discharged while minimizing withdrawal of usable fiber, which has walls coacting with parts of the carding machine to define a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine. A barometric damper assembly is incorporated in the manifold structure and exposed to the internal static pressure in the chamber to automatically respond to variations in the internal static pressure from a selected value and vary outside air admission through an opening in the walls to maintain the selected value in the chamber.

[ Mar. M, 1972 United States Patent King, Jr.

mNm Wmwm muAu mmmm mmLm up" "m?" mm m .S .H s m w BCMTM um m E HRw G mN% mm EN MI m 2 6 7 [54] LICKERIN PNEUMATIC MANIFOLD 74,994 12/1956 WITHAUTOMATIC MonULATING A 15,683 121963 DAMPER FOR REGULATING 33765104/1968 INTERNAL srATIc PRESSURE [72] Inventor: James F. King, Jr.,Winston-Salem, NC.

The Bahnson Company, N.C.

Winston-Salem,

[73] Assignee:

Primary ExaminerDorsey Newton Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence 22F'led: 22 1970 l l l 9 57] [21] App]. No.: 74,503

ABSTRACT A suction manifold structure for carding machines to capturefly from junction orifices through which fly is discharged whileminimizing withdrawal of usable fiber, which has walls coact- Related[1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 780,301, Nov. 29,1968,

ing with parts of the carding machine to define a suctionabafldonedchamber transversely spanning the cardingv machine. Abarometric damper assembly is incorporated in the manifold structure andexposed to the internal static pressure in the chamber to automaticallyrespond to variations in the internal .19/107 15/82 19/107, 109, 98,105; 126/292, static pressure from a selected value and vary outside airad- [51] Int. [58] Field oi Search 126/293 mission through an opening inthe walls to maintain the selected value in the chamber.

References Cited 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTSLICKERIN PNEUMATIC MANIFOLD WITH AUTOMATIC MODULATING DAMPER FORREGULATING INTERNAL STATIC PRESSURE This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 780,301, filed Nov. 29, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates ingeneral to pneumatic cleaning of carding machines, and more particularlyto suction manifold structure for the lickerin section of a cardingmachine for pneumatically capturing and removing dust-like trash andlint, hereinafter generally referred to as fly, being discharged fromthe lickerin region of a carding machine during operation, and forautomatically maintaining a preselected static pressure in the manifold.

Much effort has been devoted to the elimination or reduction of escapeof fly, usually in the form of a mixture of short waste fibers andtrash, from carding machines, especially as the problem of fiber andtrash escape increased with increasing speeds of operation of thecarding machines. It is important to eliminate or minimize the escape ofsuch fibers and trash into the air in the textile machinery room, as theresultant contamination would produce unhealthy working conditions forthe operators, impair the quality of the sliver because of interminglingof the airborne trash therewith, and cause deposits of the contaminantson the machinery in the room, creating fire hazards and interferencewith operation of the machinery.

Various pneumatic cleaning devices have been proposed to effect suctionwithdrawal of fly from carding machines or various portions thereof toreduce the escape of the fly into the surrounding atmosphere. Particulareffort has been devoted to the design of pneumatic cleaning equipmentfor preventing or reducing the escape of fly and similar trash from thelickerin region of the carding machine, as especially troublesomedischarge of trash occurs in this region. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, the lickerin section of the conventionalcarding machine includes a lickerin cylinder which rotates at high speedbeneath a lickerin cover or bonnet and has teeth on its periphery todraw the cotton as fibers or tufts from a lap being fed thereto betweena feed roll and feed plate and convey them downwardly in an arcuate pathpast mote knives to a main cylinder or swift. There, some of the cottonis transferred directly to the main cylinder, and some of it is impingedagainst the sharp knife edge of a back knife plate adjacent the maincylinder periphery and retained momentarily. Any cotton that is notimmediately picked up off the knife edge or by the main cylinder iswiped off the knife edge by the rotating lickerin cylinder and isconveyed under the lickerin cover back to its original feed endlocation. Thus, a large quantity of usable fiber is being conveyed in acircular manner at all times underneath the lickerin cover and anyopening in this cover will allow usable fibers to escape to theatmosphere. Obviously, there is also a large amount of waste spinningaround this lickerin cylinder underneath the lickerin cover along withthe cotton, and such waste tends to be centrifuged out to the outermostpossible location. The slight separation or spacing at the junctionbetween the exit edge of the lickerin cover and the back plate of thecard, and at the junction between the feed roll and entrance edge of thelickerin cover each constitutes junction openings or spaces throughwhich this trash can escape. While efforts have been made to minimizeblowout at these locations by providing a seal or filler strip at thejunction between the lickerin cover and back plate and a rotatable sealroller bearing against the feed roll and overlying the junction betweenthe feed roll and the lickerin cover, these seals have not provided asatisfactory solution to this problem.

In an effort to solve the problems of contaminant discharge from theselickerin regions, pneumatic cleaning devices in the form of suctionmanifold structures have been developed to effect suction withdrawal ofair from various points in the lickerin region, particularly from theopening between the lickerin cover and back plate, the opening betweenthe feed roll and the lickerin cover, and the opening between the backplate and flats chain, to capture the trash and fly being dischargedfrom these zones. Typically, these manifold structures have beenconnected at one end (i.e., at one side of the carding machine) to aconduit leading to the suction source, thus providing the suction pointconnection for the manifold at only one end and causing or allowing adrop off of static pressure throughout the entire length of the manifoldbecause of the velocity pressure of the air being drawn into themanifold through the long and continuous suction intake slot. Bass, U.S.Pat. No. 3,315,320, Reiterer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,683 and Griswold, U.S.Pat. No. 2,683,901 are illustrative of such an arrangement.

Also, the manifold structures for card lickerin sections have beencustomarily made as unitary structural assemblies to be installed orwithdrawn as a complete unit. It is advantageous to have sides which canbe removed, or moved to an open position permitting access to themanifold interior, without disassembly of the remaining parts andthrough which the interior of the manifold can be readily observed todetermine the extent to which contamination is building up or stoppageis occurring.

Further, most suction manifold structures have been factory designed toproduce a certain internal static pressure for a certain suctionpressure available from the: suction source of the air handling systemof the mill. However, it will be appreciated that the suction pressureapplied to the manifold varies from time to time for a number ofreasons, among which is variation in the amount of contaminant on thefilters associated with the air handling equipment between periodiccleaning of the filters. It has been found that it is especiallyimportant to continuously maintain a selected internal static pressurein the manifold despite variations in the applied suction pressure toprovide a vary exact amount of suction pressure at the junction betweenthe feed roll and lickerin cover which will prevent extraction ofreusable cotton fibers while capturing the trash from this junction.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of asuction manifold structure for use at the lickerin region of cardingmachines wherein suction pressure from the suction source is applied tothe manifold at a single central suction point located midway betweenthe opposite lateral ends of the manifold to obtain more evendistribution of pressures across the transverse length of the manifold.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novelsuction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine, whereina pivoted damper subject to internal static pressures within themanifold is automatically positioned responsive to variation in suchinternal static pressures to automatically maintain suction pressureapplied to the junction zone of the feed roll and lickerin cover at aselected valve.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novelsuction manifold for the lickerin section of carding machines, whereinthe manifold structure is provided with movable transparent lateral endwalls to permit continuous inspection of the extent of contaminationbuildup within the manifold and facilitate ready access to the manifoldinterior to relieve any stoppages that may occur.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome apparent from tlhe following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a vertical section view ofthe manifold structure of the present invention and the associatedportions of the lickerin section of a carding machine, takenlongitudinally of the carding machine;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse section view of the manifold structure,taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal transverse section, taken along theline 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section view of a modified damperusable in the manifold structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refem'ng to the drawings,there is shown in somewhat schematic or diagrammatic form the lickerinsection of a standard carding machine. This includes the usual lap roll11, shown in outline form, which rests on a revolving lap drive roller(not shown) so that the web-like batt 12 of material can be fed from thelap roll 11 across dish feed plate 13 and under feed roll 14. Thiscotton batt from lap 12 is then fed onto the surface of lickerincylinder 15 which, as shown, is covered with sharp projecting teeth. Thecotton on the lickerin surface then travels down past a fiber retrievingsection of conventional construction formed of vertical baffles andscreen bars. The cotton is then conveyed upwardly in an arcuate pathbeyond the fiber retriever section 16 and is transferred from thelickerin cylinder 15 to the main cylinder or swift 17 which is coveredby the usual spiked clothing 18. The usual back plate or back knifeplate 19 of the carding machine is shown in its proper relationship tothe lickerin cover 20 which is partially retained on the conventionalcast iron sides of the carding machine by bolts 21. The flats chain 22of the carding machine, which consists of flexibly interconnected flatsbars 22a, has a bight near the lickerin section where the flats chainrounds the flats idler 23 joumaled on the usual stud or bolt 23a.

The lickerin manifold, indicated generally by the reference character24, is formed basically of wall members which may very as to specificshape and manner of assembling the components together, arranged tocoact with parts of the carding machine to define a suction chamberabove the lickerin cylinder 15 and feed roll 14 and below the bight ofthe flats chain 22 to capture fly discharged through the openingsadjacent the lickerin cylinder, especially the opening between thelickerin cylinder and the feed roll. In the illustrated embodiment, themanifold 24 includes a flat structural member 25 having a lower portiondefining a substantially planar vertical front wall 26 extending from alower end located near the feed roll 14 to a location above the level'ofthe flats idler stud 23a and having a transition portion 27 at the topthereof defining the front and sidewalls of a transition duct section28, wherein the sidewalls converge upwardly to a center position locatedmidway between the sides of the manifold. Left and right foot members29, 29' each in the form of an angle frame 'member, are secured, as byspot and fusion welding, to the front wall 26 at the lateral edgesthereof, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 2, and a rear cover member 30having an intermediate vertical panel 30a, a lower inclined panel30bextending downwardly and toward the back knife plate 19 and a toppanel 30c having upwardly converging lateral edges is interposed betweenthe parallel flanges of the foot members 29, 29' extending perpendicularto the front wall 26, with flanges at the edges of the panels 30a and30c spot welded to the foot members and to the sides of the transitionportion 27 to tie together these components. In practice, the front wall26 may be made approximately the width of the flats chain 22 plus a,

very short distance to project just beyond the sides of the cardingmachine and locate the bifurcated lower end portions of the foot members29, 29 on the fixed bearings of the feed roll assembly of the cardingmachine. The intermediate vertical panel 30a of the rear cover member 30is spaced rearwardly an appropriate distance from the front wall 26 toform with the front wall and the side flanges of the foot members 29, 29a boxlike duct 31 leading upwardly into the transition duct section 28,while the top panel 30c coacts with the front and sidewall portions ofthe transition portion 27 to complete the transition duct section 28,which is provided with a circular fitting 27a at its upper end forconnection to a conduit leading to the air handling system of the millso that suction can be applied to the transition duct section 28 at asingle centrally located zone spaced midway between the lateral ends ofthe manifold.

A flats cover extension 32 is hinged to the lower edge of the lowerpanel 30b by hinge 33 and includes a first flat planar panel 32ainclined slightly upwardly from the hinge and extending toward the backknife plate 19 and a second panel 32b inclined at a steeper angle andextending to a location immediately adjacent the upper edge of the backknife plate 19 .near the junction of the latter with the flats chain.Thus, the

lower panel 30b of the rear cover member 30 and the panels 32a and 32bof the flats cover extension, all of which span the full width of theflats chain, form upper closure walls for the suction chamber lying justoutwardly of the curved path along which the flats bars track as theypass around the flats idler 23. A pair of side baffles 34 having aconcavely curved edge which conforms to and fits tightly against theback knife plate 19 of the carding machine extends from the back knifeplate to a position generally vertically above the center line of thelickerin cylinder at each side of the carding machine and is fixed inposition, for example, by angle mounting brackets 35 secured to thelickerin cover by one of the conventional lickerin cover bolts 21 andalso bolted to the side baffles 34. The side baffles 34 have asufficient vertical extent to span the distance between the lickerincover 20 and the flats cover extension 32 of the path traced by theflats bars in negotiating the flats idler 23 to thus form a partialcover for the sides of the suction chamber. The remainder of the sidesof the suction chamber extending between the forwardmost ends of theside baffles 34 and the side flanges of the foot members 29, 29 issubstantially covered by transparent side covers 36, which arepreferably movably or removably attached to the side flanges of the footmembers 29, 29', as by the continuous hinges 36a, illustrated in FIG. 3,to facilitate movement of the side covers 36 to open position,permitting the operator to gain access to the interior of the manifold.when desired without disassembly of the entire manifold. Thetransparent side coves 36 and side baffles 34, therefore, cooperate toform a reasonable seal at both sides of the carding machine to keeplarge quantities of air from moving inwardly into the interior of themanifold and into the suction passages 31 and 28, while retainingvisibility of the internal parts which required maintenance. It will benoted that the side baffles 34 are provided with eccentric stop members37 bolted to the insides of the side baffles 34 at suitable locations toengage the under side of and support the flats cover extension 32 andpermit adjustment of its position relative to the flats bars. Theseeccentric stop members 37, together with the hinging of the flats coverextension 32 to the rear cover member 30, allow adjustment to bring theflats cover extension 32 up reasonably tight against the flats, and thehinging of the flats cover extension 32 to the rear cover member 30permits such movement of the cover extension as to enable the manifoldto be removed from the carding machine by lifting it virtually straightupward.

The basic manifold structure formed of the front structural member 25,foot members 29, 29, and rear cover member 30 is supported as a unit onthe carding machine by the engagement of the bifurcated lower ends ofthe foot members 29, 29' on the fixed bearings of the feed roll assemblyand by side straps 38 which are secured to the side flanges of the footmembers 29, 29' at the level of the axis of rotation of the flats idler23 and have bifurcated ends which extend under the nut on the flatsidler stud or bolt that holds the flats idler in position on the cardingmachine.

In order to provide automatic regulation of the suction pressure withinthe suction chamber of the manifold to maintain an appropriate suctionpressure which will capture fly escaping from openings adjacent thelickerin cylinder 15, principally the opening between lickerin cylinder15 and the feed roll 14, notwithstanding variations in the suctionpressure applied at the top of the transition duct section 28 byvariations in the air handling equipment of the mill, a barometricdamper assembly is incorporated in the manifold. In the preferredembodiment herein illustrated, this is provided in the front wall 26immediately adjacent and spaced upwardly from the feed roll 14. Toprovide space for the damper, the lower region of the front wall 26 hasa rectangular opening cut upwardly from the lower edge thereof toprovide the damper opening 39, and a stiffening channel 40 is welded tothe front wall 26 all the way across just above the damper opening 39 toprovide reinforcement. A damper blade 41 fills this opening 39 in thefront wall 26 and is freely pivoted along its lower extremity to thefront wall 26, as, for example, by providing outwardly projectingtrunnion pins 42 at the opposite lateral edges of the lower extremity ofthe damper blade 41 which extend into journal openings in thecorresponding side flanges of angle brackets 43, the other flanges ofwhich are bolted to the leg extensions of the front wall 2 6 laterallybounding the damper opening 39. A weighted arm 44 is attached to eachend of the damper blade 41, for example, by rivets 45, which extendthrough backup plate 46 on the other side of the damper from the arm 44,to effect reinforcing of this attachment, and the free end of theweighted are lie at a position to the front and below the pivot axis ofthe damper and are appropriately weighted to maintain the damper inclosed position for a selected appropriate static pressure within thesuction chamber and to permit inward opening of the damper responsive tointerior static pressures higher than the selected static pressure so asto admit additional air to the manifold to restore the internal staticpressure to the proper value. By pivoting the damper 41 adjacent itslower extremity, a larger damper surface is presented to the pressurechange within the manifold to give more accurate control.

It will be apparent that as the damper 41 rotates inwardly or in acounter-clockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 1, anair entry opening is provided through the damper opening 39 which isadjustable in size, depending upon the an gular position of the damper.Although the offset external weight provided by the weighted arms 44develops a couple on the damper 411 tending to rotate its upper edgeoutwardly toward the lap from the true vertical position, this couple isresisted by the suction pressure exerted on the inner surface of thedamper blade exposed to interior manifold suction, to cause the damperblade 41 to reside in a vertical position for a selected manifoldinternal static pressure. As the internal manifold static pressuredecreases, providing greater suction within the interior of themanifold, the damper blade 41 is rotated counter-clockwise moving itsupper extremity inwardly from the front wall 26 and admitting additionalair to the manifold to restore the internal static pressure to theproper value. in practice it has been found that satisfactory operationis achieved with a damper measuring about three inches between its upperand lower edges with its lower edge located about lv inch from the feedroll 114.

The most critical area for suction cleaning in the lickerin region ofthe carding machine is the junction opening between the entrance edge ofthe lickerin cover 20 and the feed roll M. if the suction pressureapplied to this junction opening to capture and remove escaping trashbecomes excessive, good reusable fiber will also be withdrawn from thisopening into the manifold, resulting in loss of good fiber. By thepresent construction, any increase in suction pressure within themanifold which would produce excessive suction pressure at this junctionopening above a selected value is instantly counter balanced bymodulation of the damper 4f responsive to the increase in pressure to amore open position allowing extra inlet of air through the damperopening 39 to restore the suction pressure communicated to the junctionopening between the liclrerin cylinder and feed roll 14 to the desiredvalue. Thus, the modulating action of the damper 4i permits any desiredset pressure to be maintained within the zone of the manifold directlycommunicating with this junction opening by proper selection of theweight and offset of the weighted arms 44.

If desired, the damper blade, as indicated at 41a in FIG. 4, may haveits pivot axis 42a located above the lower extremity thereof, but belowthe vertical mid point of the damper, whereby the lower edge of thedamper moves forwardly away from the feed roll 14 as the upper extremityof the damper moves inwardly from the front wall 26, thereby providingan adjustable air entrance 47 adjacent the feed roll 14. In such amodified arrangement, weighted arms similar to the arms 44 may be used,appropriately modified to provide less gravitational resistance toopening of the damper, as the portions of the damper below the axis ofrotation would assist in resisting opening of the damper responsive toincreasing suction pressure, or simple counterweights 48a as shown inF104 may be secured to the lower edge of the damper to provide appropriate counter-balancing force. By providing the adjustable airentrance 47 immediately adjacent the feed roll 14, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the modulation of the damper 41a toward a more open positionincreases the size of the air entrance 47 at the low point adjacent thefeed roll M and adjacent the suction opening between the feed roll 14and liclterin cylinder l5, causing a greater conveying stream of air topass through this region and carry the trash away, in this modifiedarrangement, a web portion of the front wall 26 may be bent inwardly atthe top of the damper opening 39 to form a downwardly concave baffle 26aconcentric with the axis of rotation of the damper 411a and extend for aselected distance inwardly from the plane of the front wall 26. Withthis arrangement, the progressive enlargement of the air entry openingthrough which outside air is admitted into the interior of the suctionchamber when the damper rotates responsive to increased suction pressuremay be predominantly confined to the air entrance 47 immediatelyadjacent the feed roll for a selected range of pressure variations, andadditional quantities of air may be admitted above the upper extremityof the damper 41a when the damper rotates beyond the edge of the baffle26a when a greater decrease in suction pressure occurs.

it will be appreciated that the barometric damper assembly may belocated in other wall members of the manifold or at other locations inthe front wall than the particular location shown in the drawings, andthat the manifold structure with the barometric damper may be formedover other parts of the carding machine, particularly in the dofferregion, for maintaining a selected internal static pressure appropriateto capture and remove fly without withdrawing good usable fiber.

What is claimed is:

ll. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source ofpossibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of acarding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly isdischarged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising vertical wallmembers including transverse wall members and sidewall members extendingtransversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machinecollectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suctionchamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlyingdirect pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machinehaving said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicatingthe interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suctionsource to establish selected internal. static pressure conditionstherein for capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice andremove the same from said enclosure, one of said wall members having adamper opening therethrough for entry of outside air into saidenclosure, a modulating damper blade member having a peripheral shapecorresponding to the shape of said damper opening, means piwotallysupporting said blade member in said damper opening for angular movementabout a pivot axis between a vertical position closing said damperopening and a range of inclined open positions varying the effectivesize of the damper opening for regulating passage of outside airinwardly therethrough, said damper blade member having an exteriorsurface exposed to outside air pressure conditions and an interiorsurface exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in saidenclosure to continuously position said blade member responsive to therelative pressure condition on said surfaces and continuously positionsaid blade member in selected relation to variations in such relativepressure conditions so as to continuously maintain a selected pressurevalue in said enclosure.

2. The manifold structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot axisis a horizontal pivot axis located below the centroid of pressure of thedamper blade member, said damper blade member having its interiorsurface above said pivot axis exposed to the internal static pressure insaid enclosure to continuously exert an opening force thereon whichvaries with variation in said internal static pressure.

3. The manifold structure as defined in claim 2, including counterweightmeans secured to said damper blade member for maintaining the damperblade member in a position closing said damper opening when saidinternal static pressure is at said selected pressure value and forexerting a selected resistance to opening of said damper blade memberresponsive to internal static pressures exceeding said selected pressurevalue.

4. The manifold structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said manifoldstructure is located over the lickerin cylinder and feed roll of thecarding machine with said suction chamber enclosure being in directpneumatic communication with the junction orifice between the feed rolland lickerin cylinder, said damper blade having horizontal upper andlower edges and a horizontal pivot axis below its vertical midpoint, andsaid damper blade being located in substantially vertical positiongenerally above said feed roll with the lower edge thereof disposedclosely adjacent said feed roll when said selected pressure value occursand being automatically angularly moved to positions selectivelythrottling air entry through said opening responsive to internal staticpressure exceeding said value communicated to the surface of said damperblade lying above said pivot axis and facing inwardly of aid enclosure.

5. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source ofpossibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of acarding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly isdischarged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising wall meansincluding transverse wall members and sidewall members extendingtransversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machinecollectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suctionchamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlyingdirect pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machinehaving said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicatingthe interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suctionsource to establish selected internal static pressure conditions thereinfor capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove thesame from said enclosure, said transverse wall members including a wallhaving an opening immediately adjacent a surface of a moving part of thecarding machine on which cotton is conveyed for admitting outside airinto said enclosure, damper means in said opening automaticallycontinuously positioned responsive to the internal static pressure insaid enclosure to vary the size of said opening and the amount ofoutside air admitted therethrough in selected relation to variations insaid internal static pressure from a selected pressure value tocontinuously maintain said selected pressure value in the region of saidenclosure directly adjacent to said junction orifice, said damper meansincluding a damper blade member having a shape corresponding to saidopening defining upper and lower horizontal edges, means pivotallysupporting said blade member in said opening about a horizontal pivotaxis located below the vertical midpoint of the blade member for angularmovement from a position closing said opening to open positions spacingthe upper edge thereof inwardly from said wall, the lower edge of saidblade member being located closely adjacent and substantially parallelto said surface, and said blade member having its interior surface abovesaid pivot axis continuously exposed to the internal static pressure insaid enclosure and its exterior surface exposed to exterior air pressureconditions to continuously angularly position the blade member to saidopen posi- 6. The manifold structure as defined in claim 5, wherein saidpivot axis is located immediately adjacent the lower edge of said damperblade member, and said damper means including counterweight memberssecured to said blade member for exerting selected gravitational biasingforces thereon toward said closed position.

7. The manifold structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said pivot axisis located a selected distance above the lower edge of said blade memberwhereby said lower edge moves progressively away from said surface ofsaid moving part of the carding machine as said upper edge movesinwardly from said wall.

8. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerinsection of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, alickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinderperiphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having anentrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orificewith said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chainadjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bightspaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knifeplate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall memberstransversely spanning the carding machine located generally above saidfeed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of saidcarding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning thecarding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture flydischarged through said junction orifice, suction connection means forcommunicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suctionsource, said wall means having a damper opening and a damper pivotedtherein defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry ofoutside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of theinternal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure valueto maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directlycommunicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, saiddamper having a first exterior surface exposed to the ambient pressureconditions externally surrounding the manifold and having a secondinternal surface exposed to the internal static pressure conditions inthe chamber, said damper being continuously positioned by the pressureforces on said first and second surfaces in selected relation'toregulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening andthereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure atsaid chamber zone.

9. A suction manifold as defined in claim 8, wherein said wall meansincludes an upright wall panel extending from a lower positionimmediately above the periphery of said feed roll to the level of saidbight, said damper opening extending substantially across the width ofthe wall panel for a substantial height upwardly from said lowerposition, and said damper substantially fully occupying said damperopening and having horizontal lower and upper edges respectivelyadjacent said feed roll and the top of said damper opening, and saiddamper being pivoted below the midpoint between said upper and loweredges and angularly positioned responsive to variations in said internalstatic pressure to vary the effective size of said damper opening.

10. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerinsection of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, alickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinderperiphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having anentrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orificewith said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chainadjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bightspaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knifeplate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall memberstransversely spanning the carding machine located generally above saidfeed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of saidcarding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning thecarding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture flydischarged through said junction orifice, suction connection means forcommunicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suctionsource, said wall means having means defining a variable area openingtherethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variableamounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamberfrom a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zoneof said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice atsaid selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulatingmember for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internalstatic pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlledresponsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount ofoutside air entry through said opening and thereby automaticallymaintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone,said suction connection means being located midway between said sidewallmembers spaced from said bight in the direction away from said backknife plate and located above said bight, said sidewall membersincluding portions extending in upwardly converging paths fromsubstantially the level of said bight to a central zone located midwaybetween opposite sides of the carding machine defining an upwardlytapering duct section therebetween, and said suction connection meansincluding means defining a suction connection fitting immediatelyadjacent the uppermost ends of said sidewall portions.

1111. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerinsection of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, alickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinderperiphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having anentrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orificewith said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chainadjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bightspaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knifeplate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall memberstransversely spanning the carding machine located generally above saidfeed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of saidcarding maching defining a suction chamber transversely spanning thecarding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture flydischarged through said junction orifice, suction connection means forcommunicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suctionsource, said wall means having means defining a variable area openingtherethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variableamounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamberfrom a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zoneof said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice atsaid selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulatingmember for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internalstatic pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlledresponsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount ofoutside air entry through said opening and thereby automaticallymaintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, aback wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of saidwall members toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air ducttherewith and an inclined panel portion extending from the verticalpanel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about aportion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclinedpanel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about theremainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a locationadjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.

112. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for a lllll lickerinsection of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, alickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinderperiphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having anentrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orificewith said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chainadjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bightspaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knifeplate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall memberstransversely spanning the carding machine located generally above saidfeed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of saidcarding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning thecarding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture flydischarged through said junction orifice, suction connection means forcommunicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suctionsource, said wall means having means defining a variable area openingtherethrough for entry of out side air into said chamber in variableamounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamberfrom a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zoneof said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice atsaid selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulatingmember for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internalstatic pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlledresponsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount ofoutside air entry through said opening and thereby automaticallymaintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone,said wall means including an upright wall panel extending from a lowerposition immediately above the periphery of said feed roll to the levelof said bight, said means defining a variable area opening including adamper opening in said wall panel substantially across the width of thewall panel for a substantial height upwardly from said lower positionand a damper forming said regulating member substantially fullyoccupying said damper opening and having horizontal lower and upperedges respectively adjacent said feed roll and the top of said damperopening and an interior surface exposed to said internal staticpressure, and said damper being pivoted below the midpoint between saidupper and lower edges and angularly positioned responsive to variationsin said internal :static pressure to vary the effective size of saiddamper opening, a back wall member having a vertical panel portionspaced from said upright wall panel toward said back knife plate forminga vertical air duct therewith and an inclined panel portion extendingfrom the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knifeplate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged tosaid inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend belowand about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portionto a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knifeplate.

13. A manifold as defined in claim including a back wall member having avertical panel portion spaced from one of said wall members toward saidback knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith rising to saidupwardly tapering duct section and an inclined panel portion extendingfrom the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knifeplate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged tosaid inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend belowand about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portionto a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knifeplate.

1. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source ofpossibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of acarding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly isdischarged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising vertical wallmembers including transverse wall members and sidewall members extendingtransversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machinecollectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suctionchamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlyingdirect pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machinehaving said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicatingthe interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suctionsource to establish selected internal static pressure conditions thereinfor capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove thesame from said enclosure, one of said wall members having a damperopening therethrough for entry of outside air into said enclosure, amodulating damper blade member having a peripheral shape correspondingto the shape of said damper opening, means pivotally supporting saidblade member in said damper opening for angular movement about a pivotaxis between a vertical position closing said damper opening and a rangeof inclined open positions varying the effective size of the damperopening for regulating passage of outside air inwardly therethrough,said damper blade member having an exterior surface exposed to outsideair pressure conditions and an interior surface exposed to the internalstatic pressure conditions in said enclosure to continuously positionsaid blade member responsive to the relative pressure condition on saidsurfaces and continuously position said blade member in selectedrelation to variations in such relative pressure conditions so as tocontinuously maintain a selected pressure value in said enclosure. 2.The manifold structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot axis isa horizontal pivot axis located below the centroid of pressure of thedamper blade member, said damper blade member having its interiorsurface above said pivot axis exposed to the internal static pressure insaid enclosure to continuously exert an opening force thereon whichvaries with variation in said internal static pressure.
 3. The manifoldstructure as defined in claim 2, including counterweight means securedto said damper blade member for maintaining the damper blade member in aposition closing said damper opening when said internal static pressureis at said selected pressure value and for exerting a selectedresistance to opening of said damper blade member responsive to internalstatic pressures exceeding said selected pressure value.
 4. The manifoldstructure as defined in claim 1, wherein said manifold structure islocated over the lickerin cylinder and feed roll of the carding macHinewith said suction chamber enclosure being in direct pneumaticcommunication with the junction orifice between the feed roll andlickerin cylinder, said damper blade having horizontal upper and loweredges and a horizontal pivot axis below its vertical midpoint, and saiddamper blade being located in substantially vertical position generallyabove said feed roll with the lower edge thereof disposed closelyadjacent said feed roll when said selected pressure value occurs andbeing automatically angularly moved to positions selectively throttlingair entry through said opening responsive to internal static pressureexceeding said value communicated to the surface of said damper bladelying above said pivot axis and facing inwardly of said enclosure.
 5. Amanifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source ofpossibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of acarding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly isdischarged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising wall meansincluding transverse wall members and sidewall members extendingtransversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machinecollectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suctionchamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlyingdirect pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machinehaving said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicatingthe interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suctionsource to establish selected internal static pressure conditions thereinfor capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove thesame from said enclosure, said transverse wall members including a wallhaving an opening immediately adjacent a surface of a moving part of thecarding machine on which cotton is conveyed for admitting outside airinto said enclosure, damper means in said opening automaticallycontinuously positioned responsive to the internal static pressure insaid enclosure to vary the size of said opening and the amount ofoutside air admitted therethrough in selected relation to variations insaid internal static pressure from a selected pressure value tocontinuously maintain said selected pressure value in the region of saidenclosure directly adjacent to said junction orifice, said damper meansincluding a damper blade member having a shape corresponding to saidopening defining upper and lower horizontal edges, means pivotallysupporting said blade member in said opening about a horizontal pivotaxis located below the vertical midpoint of the blade member for angularmovement from a position closing said opening to open positions spacingthe upper edge thereof inwardly from said wall, the lower edge of saidblade member being located closely adjacent and substantially parallelto said surface, and said blade member having its interior surface abovesaid pivot axis continuously exposed to the internal static pressure insaid enclosure and its exterior surface exposed to exterior air pressureconditions to continuously angularly position the blade member to saidopen positions by the relative forces of the pressure on said surfacesin selected relation to variations in said internal static pressure fromsaid selected pressure value.
 6. The manifold structure as defined inclaim 5, wherein said pivot axis is located immediately adjacent thelower edge of said damper blade member, and said damper means includingcounterweight members secured to said blade member for exerting selectedgravitational biasing forces thereon toward said closed position.
 7. Themanifold structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said pivot axis islocated a selected distance above the lower edge of said blade memberwhereby said lower edge moves progressively away from said surface ofsaid moving part of the carding machine as said upper edge movesinwardly from said wall.
 8. A fly collecting and removing suctionmanifold for the lickerin section of a carding Machine having a feedroller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering aportion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curvedlickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axisdefining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly isdischarged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinderperiphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover andconverging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wallmeans including wall members transversely spanning the carding machinelocated generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall memberscollectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suctionchamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerincover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junctionorifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of thesuction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having adamper opening and a damper pivoted therein defining a variable areaopening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber invariable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in saidchamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressurein a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junctionorifice at said selected value, said damper having a first exteriorsurface exposed to the ambient pressure conditions externallysurrounding the manifold and having a second internal surface exposed tothe internal static pressure conditions in the chamber, said damperbeing continuously positioned by the pressure forces on said first andsecond surfaces in selected relation to regulate the amount of outsideair entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintainsubstantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone.
 9. Asuction manifold as defined in claim 8, wherein said wall means includesan upright wall panel extending from a lower position immediately abovethe periphery of said feed roll to the level of said bight, said damperopening extending substantially across the width of the wall panel for asubstantial height upwardly from said lower position, and said dampersubstantially fully occupying said damper opening and having horizontallower and upper edges respectively adjacent said feed roll and the topof said damper opening, and said damper being pivoted below the midpointbetween said upper and lower edges and angularly positioned responsiveto variations in said internal static pressure to vary the effectivesize of said damper opening.
 10. A fly collecting and removing suctionmanifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine having a feedroller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering aportion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curvedlickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axisdefining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly isdischarged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinderperiphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover andconverging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wallmeans including wall members transversely spanning the carding machinelocated generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall memberscollectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suctionchamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerincover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junctionorifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of thesuction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means havingmeans defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outsideair into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internalstatic pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value tomaintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directlycommunicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, saidlast-mentioned means including a regulating member for varying the sizeof said opening exposed to the internal static pressure conditions inthe chamber and automatically controlled responsive thereto in selectedrelation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through saidopening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant staticpressure at said chamber zone, said suction connection means beinglocated midway between said sidewall members spaced from said bight inthe direction away from said back knife plate and located above saidbight, said sidewall members including portions extending in upwardlyconverging paths from substantially the level of said bight to a centralzone located midway between opposite sides of the carding machinedefining an upwardly tapering duct section therebetween, and saidsuction connection means including means defining a suction connectionfitting immediately adjacent the uppermost ends of said sidewallportions.
 11. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for thelickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a maincylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the maincylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover havingan entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junctionorifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flatschain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curvedbight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said backknife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall memberstransversely spanning the carding machine located generally above saidfeed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of saidcarding maching defining a suction chamber transversely spanning thecarding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture flydischarged through said junction orifice, suction connection means forcommunicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suctionsource, said wall means having means defining a variable area openingtherethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variableamounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamberfrom a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zoneof said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice atsaid selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulatingmember for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internalstatic pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlledresponsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount ofoutside air entry through said opening and thereby automaticallymaintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, aback wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of saidwall members toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air ducttherewith and an inclined panel portion extending from the verticalpanel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about aportion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclinedpanel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about theremainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a locationadjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.
 12. A flycollecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of acarding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, aback knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder peripheryadjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edgeparalleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feedroll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent andoverlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced abovesaid lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; themanifold comprising wall means including wall members transverselyspanning the carding machine located generally above said Feed roll andspaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding machinedefining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machineabove the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged throughsaid junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating theinterior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wallmeans having means defining a variable area opening therethrough forentry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts uponvariation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from aselected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone ofsaid chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at saidselected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulating memberfor varying the size of said opening exposed to the internal staticpressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlledresponsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount ofoutside air entry through said opening and thereby automaticallymaintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone,said wall means including an upright wall panel extending from a lowerposition immediately above the periphery of said feed roll to the levelof said bight, said means defining a variable area opening including adamper opening in said wall panel substantially across the width of thewall panel for a substantial height upwardly from said lower positionand a damper forming said regulating member substantially fullyoccupying said damper opening and having horizontal lower and upperedges respectively adjacent said feed roll and the top of said damperopening and an interior surface exposed to said internal staticpressure, and said damper being pivoted below the midpoint between saidupper and lower edges and angularly positioned responsive to variationsin said internal static pressure to vary the effective size of saiddamper opening, a back wall member having a vertical panel portionspaced from said upright wall panel toward said back knife plate forminga vertical air duct therewith and an inclined panel portion extendingfrom the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knifeplate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged tosaid inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend belowand about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portionto a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knifeplate.
 13. A manifold as defined in claim 10 including a back wallmember having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of said wallmembers toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air ducttherewith rising to said upwardly tapering duct section and an inclinedpanel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly andtoward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and anextension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustablypositioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight fromsaid inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence ofsaid bight and back knife plate.